US President Donald Trump has appointed Adam Telle as Acting Secretary of the Army, following the resignation of Dan Driscoll earlier this week.
Telle previously oversaw the US Army Corps of Engineers and headed the Army’s civilian projects. Trump praised him as “a Great Patriot, who is respected by all” in a post on Truth Social.
Before joining the Army’s senior leadership, Telle spent years working on the staff of Republican senators. During Trump’s first term in office, he also served on the White House team responsible for congressional relations.
Telle’s appointment as acting secretary, bypassing official First Under Secretary Michael Obadal, is an unusual move, Politico reported.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth backed the appointment, describing Telle as “strong and whip smart” and saying he would be a valuable addition to the Army.
Driscoll submitted his resignation earlier this week, although no official reason has been given. The Wall Street Journal reported that his departure was expected amid tensions with Hegseth, while The Hill cited sources as saying the two had been engaged in a “power struggle” at the Pentagon.
The Secretary of the Army is a civilian position within the Department of Defense. The Secretary reports directly to the Defense Secretary and is not a member of the Cabinet.
By Vugar Khalilov
